Combination manicure device and writing instrument



Jan. 11, 1966 A. ROHRMULLERY COMBINATION MANICURE DEVICE AND WRITINGINSTRUMENT Filed July 6, 1964 United States atent 3,228,378 COMBINATIONMANICURE DEVICE AND WRlTING INSTRUMENT August Rohrmuller, 198-40 32ndAve., Bayside, N.Y. Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,565 4 Claims. (Cl.120-1) This invention relates to a combination manicure device andwriting instrument and has specific relation to a combination fingernailfile and writing member, such as a ball point pen cartridge or the like,contained within a housing constructed and arranged for convenientmanipulation of the file and the writing instrument and adapted to beconveniently carried on the person.

In accordance with the invention there is provided an elongated housingformed in two principal sections that are in axial alignment and arejoined in a manner which prevents them from moving longitudinallyrelative to each other but permits relative rotation about their commonaxis. Within this housing is mounted the fingernail file and the writinginstrument and the housing is provided with a clip device for retentionin a shirt pocket or similar place on the person. The assembly is ofsimple and therefore of economic construction with the housingpreferably eing made of a suitable plastic and with the file and theWriting instrument being normally fully retracted into the housing whennot in use but movable from their retracted position through relativerotation of the two housing sections. The arrangement is such that onlyone of these devices may be moved from its retracted to its operativeposition at a time and the writing instrument is spring biased to itsretracted position and is moved to its operative position by means ofthe file, with the file engaging and thus moving the Writing instrumentonly after the file has been retracted fully into the housing. The fileis spring mounted within the housing and is actuated throughmanipulation of this spring with the spring being helical and coaxial ofthe housing and secured to the housing section opposite to that withinwhich the file is retained. With this arrangement the spring is rotatedabout the axis of the housing incident to relative rotation between thetwo housing sections. Rotation of the spring causes the file to moveaxially of the housing to and from its extreme positions. This springmounting for the file prevents the use of the file as a weapon and alsoprevents serious injury or accident from use of the file in that whenexcessive force is applied to the file when it is extended from thehousing the spring will be compressed and the file sheathed by beingpushed into the housing.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved combination manicure device and writing instrument.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such an improvedcombination which is of extremely simple and economic construction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an improvedcombination which is particularly adapted to be conveniently carried onthe person with the file being spring mounted and with the writinginstrument being moved from its retracted to its extended positionthrough manipulation of the file.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art as the description proceeds.

With the aforementioned objects in view, the invention comprises anarrangement, construction and combination of the elements of theinventive organization in such a manner as to attain the results desiredas hereinafter more particularly set forth in the following detaileddescription of an illustrative embodiment, said embodiment being shownby the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the novel combination or assembly ofthe invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the organization of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG- URE 2 but takendegrees from the illustration of FIG- URE 2 with this FIGURE 3 showingas taken generally along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along line 44 ofFIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters areused throughout to designate like elements, the illustrative andpreferred embodiment of the invention depicted therein comprises anelongated generally cylindrical housing 16 that is formed of twoprincipal sections or portions 12 and 14 that are in axial alignment asdisclosed. The housing portion 12 is provided with threads 16 at one endwhile the other or outer end is tapered as indicated at 18. Immediatelyinward of the threads or threaded region 16 there is provided on housingportion 12 an annular recess 20 from which extends a relatively shortslot 22 and fitted within this recess and slot is the collar and shankrespectively of clip 24 by means of which the combination file andwriting instrument assembly may be clipped onto the shirt pocket orother desired location of the user or carrier.

There is provided within the housing portion 12, the cylindrical recess26 which extends throughout this housing portion as viewed in FIG. 2, toa location adjacent the tapered end 18. At this end the slot 28 isformed which extends the length of the tapered end from the terminus ofrecess 26 to the end of the housing. This slot as viewed in FIGURES 2and 3 has a width that is substantially greater than its thickness, withthe width being shown in FIG. 3 while the thickness is shown in FIG. 2.This slot is adapted to snugly but slidably receive the file portion ofthe assembly so that it may move longitudinally of the housing portion12 but may not rotate relative to the housing.

Received within the recess 26 of the housing portion 12 is the actuatingspring 29 which is secured at one end to the housing portion 14, withthis housing portion 14 having a reduced shank 36) received within thespring and fixedly secured to the spring. Housing portion 14 is providedwith a radially outwardly extending flange 32 which seats against theend of the housing portion 12 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, and the twohousing portions are retained in their proper relationship as thusillustrated by means of the collar 34 which is provided with threadsmatching the threads 16 and is thus threaded onto the end of the housingportion 12. The inner region of this collar 34 retains the clip 24 inits proper position within recess 20 and the outer region of the collar34 is provided with an inwardly directed lip that engages the flange 32and holds it against the end of the housing portion 12. The two housingportions 12 and 14 are thus prevented from moving axially with relationto each other but are permitted to rotate relative to each other abouttheir common axis and since spring 29 is secured to the housing portion14 this spring rotates with this housing portion but is prevented frommoving axially with relation thereto.

Also mounted in the housing portion 12 is the file member 36 which ispointed and scored as shown and is provided with a partially relievedshank 38 for reception within the spring. This shank portion haslaterally extending ears 40 that are received in the spring in such amanner that rotation of the spring moves the file axially of thehousing, with the file, by means of these ears being prevented fromhaving any substantially axial movement with relation to the springother than by means of rotation of the spring. The file 36 is receivedin the slot 28 in such a manner that rotation of the file relative tothe housing is prevented while it is permitted to move or slide freelyin and out of the housing section 12. The file 36 is dimensioned so thatwhen the pointed end of the file is within the housing portion 12 but isadjacent the outer end of slot 28 the other end of the file is spacedwell from the inner extremity of housing section 14, i.e., the shank 30.Thus from this initial position where the file is fully retracted intothe housing section 12 the file may be moved further inwardly into thishousing section. It is this further inward movement that is utilized tomanipulate the writing instrument or device contained within housingsection 14.

As illustratively disclosed in the preferred embodiment this writinginstrument is in the form of a ball point pen cartridge 42 disposedwithin the recess or passageway in the housing section 14. As isconventional the ballpoint cartridge includes spring 44 disposed aboutthe cartridge tube with one end of the spring bearing against washer 46which in turn bears against the enlarged section 48 of the cartridgetube. As illustratively disclosed the pen cartridge extends through theshank 30 of housing portion 14 and into the housing portion 12. Spring44 is effective to bias this pen cartridge to the position shown inFIGURE 2 and the cartridge is moved from this fully retracted positionwithin the housing of the combination manicure device and writinginstrument to an operative position where the extremity of the pencartridge extends from the right end of housing portion 14 throughrotation of the housing portions 12 and 14 relative to each other tomove the file 36 to the right from the position shown in FIGURE 2. Theinner end of the file thus engages the inner end of the pen cartridgeand moves the pen cartridge against the bias of spring 44 from itsretracted to its operative position.

Housing portion 14 is made of two pieces to facilitate replacement ofthe pen cartridge and inward movement of the pen cartridge is limited byshoulder 49 when engaged by the enlarged section 48.

Thus with the organization of the present invention both the file andthe pen cartridge are simultaneously retractable to a position wherethey are retained entirely within the housing with either of theseinstruments being movable from its retracted to its operative positionand with manipulation of the file 36 effecting such movement of both ofthe devices.

When the file 36 is moved to its operative position where the pointedend extends from the slot 28 and outwardly of the housing portion 12, itis retained in this position by means of the spring 29. This spring hassufficent resilience so that the chances of serious injury throughaccident or misuse of the file is greatly reduced and the use of thefile as a weapon is prevented, since when excessive pressure is exertedagainst the end of the file when it is thus extended the spring 24 willbe compressed and the file thus pushed into the housing and accordinglywithdrawn.

There is thus provided in accordance with the present invention anextremely simple and economic combination manicure device and writinginstrument with there being few parts, most of which, including thehousing and spring if desired may be made of relatively cheap materialsuch as plastic although it is preferred that the spring, file, andclip, be made of suitable metal.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention it is to be understood that such is merely illustrative andnot restrictive and that variations and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. I,therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forthbut desire to avail myself of such changes as fall within the purview ofmy invention.

What is claimed is;

l. A ombination manic re devi e and Wri i g in trument comprising anelongated housing, a helical spring mounted in said housing andrestrained from axial movement therewithin, means for rotating saidspring generally about its axis, a file member slidably received withinsaid housing and spring but prevented from rotating relative to saidhousing, said file member including means engaging said spring so thatsaid file member moves axially thereof incident to rotation of thespring to and from a retracted position where it is retained entirelywithin the housing and a position where a portion thereof extends fromone end of the housing, an elongated writing means mounted in thehousing generally axially aligned with the file, said writing meansbeing axially movable within said housing to and from a retractedposition where it is retained entirely within the housing and anoperative position where the outer end thereof extends from the otherend of the housing, said writing means being biased to its retractedposition, said file when fully retracted into the housing engaging saidwriting means and movable further into the housing to move said writingmeans from its retracted position to said operative position.

2. A combination manicure device and writing instrument including anelongated housing having coaxial first and second portions, meansmaintaining said portions in fixed longitudinal relation whilepermitting axial rotation therebetween, a helical spring secured to saidsecond portion and extending into said first portion generally coaxialthereof, a file received within a conforming slot at the outer end ofsaid first portion in a manner that permits movement thereof axially ofsaid first portion but prevents rotation thereof relative thereto, saidfile including a portion extending within the helical spring and havinglaterally extending ears received intermediate flights of the springwhereby rotation of the spring moves the file axially within the housingto and from a position where it is contained entirely within the housingand a position where a substantial portion thereof extends from saidouter end of said first portion, an elongated writing means in andcoaxial of said second portion, spring means biasing said writing meansto a position where it is retracted entirely within said housing withthe inner end thereof then being positioned to be engaged by the innerend of the file after it has been retracted into the housing but beforeit reaches the extremity of its inward movement whereby through movementof the file the writing means is moved from its retracted position to aposition where the outer end thereof projects from the outer end of saidsecond portion.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said writing meanscomprises a cartridge type pen.

4. A combination manicure device and a writing instrument comprising anelongated housing having a first portion and a second portion in coaxialrelation, said first portion provided with external threads at its innerend with a recess extending from said inner end toward the outer end andwith a relatively narrow slot extending from the end of said recess tosaid outer end, said second portion having an outwardly extending flangein overlying relation with the inner end of said first portion with acap threadedly received on said outer end and provided with an inwardlydirected shoulder engaging said flange and retaining it against saidinner end whereby said first and second portions are prevented frommoving axially of each other but are permitted tov rotate relative toeach other about their common axis, a helical spring secured to saidsecond portion and extending into said recess, a file member having areduced shank portion received with-- in said helical spring withoppositely extending laterally disposed ears disposed intermediate turnsof said spring whereby rotation of said spring moves said file member inan axial direction, the outer end of said file conforming to andreceived in the slot in the outer end of said first portion, the innerend of said file being spaced from the inner end of said spring when thefile is fully retracted into said housing, said second portion havingaxial passageway therethrough, a cartridge type pen disposed within saidpassageway and spring biased to a position where it is retracted intosaid housing, said pen being moved from its retracted position to aposition Where the outer 5 end thereof extends from the outer end ofsaid second portion through manipulation of said file, the innermost endof said file engaging the innermost end of said pen after the file hasbeen fully retracted but prior to said file being moved inward to itsextreme position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 273,232 2/1883Hoifrnan 120-1 850,189 4/1907 Stephenson 120-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,6462/1883 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

1. A COMBINATION MANICURE DEVICE AND WRITING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING ANELONGATED HOUSING, A HELICAL SPRING MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING ANDRESTRICTED FROM AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREWITH, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SPRINGGENERALLY ABOUT ITS AXIS, A FILE MEMBER SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAIDHOUSING AND SPRING BUT PREVENTED FROM ROTATING RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING,SAID FILE MEMBER INCLUDING MEANS ENGAGING SAID SPRING SO THAT SAID FILEMEMBER MOVES AXIALLY THEREOF INCIDENT TO ROTATION OF THE SPRING TO ANDFROM A RETRACTED POSITION WHERE IT IS RETAINED ENTIRELY WITHIN THEHOUSING AND A POSITION WHERE A PORTION THEREOF EXTENDS FROM ONE END OFTHE HOUSING, AN ELONGATED WRITING MEANS MOUNTED IN THE HOUSING GENERALLYAXIALLY ALIGNED WITH THE FILE, SAID WRITING MEANS BEING AXIALLY MOVABLEWITHIN SAID HOUSING TO AND FROM A RETRACTED POSITION WHERE IT ISRETAINED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE HOUSING AND AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHERE THEOUTER END THEREOF EXTENDS FROM THE OTHER END OF THE HOUSING, SAIDWRITING MEANS BEING BIASED TO ITS RETRACTED POSITION, SAID FILE WHENFULLY RETRACTED INTO THE HOUSING ENGAGING SAID WRITING MEANS AND MOVABLEFURTHER INTO THE HOUSING TO MOVE SAID WRITING MEANS FROM ITS RETRACTEDPOSITION TO SAID OPERATIVE POSITION.